SQL Server Accelerator for BI Features
SQL Server Accelerator for BI includes a number of key features to help you quickly build valuable, customised business intelligence solutions. Review the following sections to learn more about some of the features of SQL Server Accelerator for BI.
Rapid Development Tool
SQL Server Accelerator for BI enables organisations to quickly customise
their business intelligence solution through the Analytics Builder
Workbook, which is a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet that enables
IT organisations and Microsoft Solution Providers to modify or create
custom analytical applications based on specific business requirements.
With the Analytics Builder Workbook, you can configure your application
data model to meet your specific needs. The Analytics Builder Workbook
automatically generates your business intelligence solution infrastructure
based on your application data model. The infrastructure built by the
Analytics Builder Workbook includes a staging database, a relational database,
an online analytical processing (OLAP) database, Data Transformation Services
(DTS) packages, and preconfigured views of the business intelligence data
in the OLAP database.
Data Models
Developed by experienced consultants, data models for SQL Server Accelerator
for BI serve as a starting point for developing BI solutions that meet
customers' needs. The data models consist of relational and multidimensional
database schemas, dimensions, measures, key performance indicators (KPIs),
and client views.
In addition to an empty data model for those who want to start their design from scratch, SQL Server Accelerator for BI ships with sample data models for sales and marketing analysis and retail analysis.
Demos and Starter Templates
Demos and starter templates for manufacturing and financial services are
also available as separate downloads.
To download the additional demos and templates, visit Microsoft's Demos and Templates page.
Client Views
Solutions built with SQL Server Accelerator for BI provide pre-configured
client views for various client tools from partners including ProClarity
Corporation, Decision Support Panel, MIS AG, and Panorama Software Systems.
As you modify the data models in the Analytics Builder Workbook,
the predefined reports for each client will be modified. This means you
can quickly deliver a valuable application customised to your users' requirements.
Data Processing and Movement Infrastructure
SQL Server Accelerator for BI builds a data processing and management
application—consisting of DTS packages, metadata tables, and stored
procedures—that moves the initial and incremental loads of data
within your analytical application and processes the multidimensional
cubes within the analysis database. Until now, this type of infrastructure
has been built by hand. Even using high-productivity tools like DTS in
SQL Server, this is a time-consuming and tedious process.
The data processing and movement infrastructure has traditionally been a roadblock to rapid design iteration, because even a small change in a schema’s structure has required handwork to retrofit and test the changes. SQL Server Accelerator for BI provides a flexible, manageable, and extensible data processing and movement infrastructure.
Enterprise Architecture
All business intelligence solutions built with SQL Server Accelerator
for BI take advantage of the Microsoft Data Warehousing Framework, which
is based on SQL Server 2000 with Analysis Services, Microsoft Office,
and the Microsoft Windows 2000 platform. This framework provides a comprehensive,
scalable, and extensible infrastructure for business intelligence applications,
ensuring your company has a solution that fits your business needs. The
Microsoft Data Warehousing Framework includes everything you need to build
powerful analytical applications.
Open Standards
Solutions built with SQL Server Accelerator for BI also take advantage
of a number of open industry standards native to SQL Server that ensure
integration and extensibility with your current environment. The analytical
application you create with SQL Server Accelerator for BI will integrate
with your existing systems and data sources.
The open standards include the following:
- XML-enabled relational database management system (RDBMS) providing easy enterprise application integration.
- OLE DB for OLAP, which integrates a wide range of analysis products.
- XML for Analysis, an XML-based interface supporting flexible data exchange capabilities and enterprise application integration.
When you build a solution with SQL Server Accelerator for BI, prescriptive guidance documentation is included to help you develop the best BI solutions today. The prescriptive guidance includes:
- Details on relational and multidimensional database design decisions, including a discussion of alternatives and tradeoffs
- Design and development guidance beyond what is provided in SQL Server Accelerator for BI.
- Best practices settings for configuration of SQL Server 2000 with Analysis Services.
- Advice on methods to optimise the analytical application for best
performance.
Deployment, operations, and management guidance.
"The Microsoft SQL Server Accelerator for BI has allowed the business to model their business requirements without having to conform to any pre-defined templates—designs that end up restricting the business's key analytical capabilities. This product also shaved 16–18 weeks of back-end plumbing development time off the project by installing a solid infrastructure, allowing dimensional modelers to focus on building strategic business prototypes for key stakeholders. Microsoft SQL Server Accelerator for BI naturally incorporates industry-leading dimensional modeling best practices, allowing the organization to build scalable, flexible, business intelligent solutions."
Michael Matrick
Vice President of Business Solutions,
Quadrus Development, Inc.
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